Have you decided it’s time to spend more time on self-improvement this year? For many people in recovery, self-esteem is an ongoing issue. Many people with substance use disorders report having trouble with self-esteem. You may have struggled with it when you were younger or something in your life shook you that made it hard for you to feel good about yourself.

For some people, their self-image slowly chipped away as addiction changed them.

Whatever the case may be, there’s a good chance you can benefit from better self-esteem. Working on it slowly can help you begin to reclaim your negative thoughts about yourself and create a new narrative.

Self-Esteem Building Activities

What kinds of things help you grow your sense of self-esteem? Many different activities can help! Here are some ideas for you to try to help build your confidence and feel good about yourself:

• Learn a new skill. That may mean something for a workplace or it could be a skill like learning to listen actively. It’s always good to challenge yourself and realize you’re still able to learn something new.
• Build a new habit, such as going for a walk every day to clear your head. New habits help us engage fully with the world, and replace our older habits that aren’t as productive.
• Read a self-help book and try out some of the exercises.
• Practice being assertive if you’re timid. Let people know how you feel and ask for help when you need it. You deserve to get your needs met!
• Practice affirmations. Focus on challenging your negative beliefs about yourself. Write out statements about yourself that are positive and practice starting your day with them, every day.
• Ask for help. Asking for help opens the door for getting what you need out of recovery. If you’re feeling low or bad about yourself, talk about those feelings with others and ask for their experience, strength and hope.

As you stay sober longer, you’ll begin to value yourself again and build a new life in recovery. In recovery you’ll learn that you’re not a bad person, just a human with flaws and feelings like everybody else.

Recovery means you’re getting better every day. Take it a day at a time! You didn’t become addicted overnight, so you’re not going to be 100% perfect with your recovery overnight. Give yourself a chance and be gentle with yourself.

Getting Help Through Sober Living

Sober Living is a great way to build more confidence in yourself and your recovery. In a structured environment, you’ll learn more about how to stay sober on a daily basis. Learn more about what our sober housing offers by giving us a call at 760-216-2077.